Dalits denied water, NHRC issues notice to Bihar

New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) The NHRC Wednesday sought a report from the Bihar government over the denial of water to Dalits by upper caste people in Kishanganj.

"A notice has been issued to the chief secretary of Bihar and the district magistrate of Kishanganj," National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said in a statement.

"Reportedly, higher caste people, including the panchayat head, issued a diktat ordering Dalits not to use village water as they had complained that money meant for welfare schemes was being siphoned off by the panchayat members," it added.

"Children of Dalit families were warned of dire consequences if they attended the village schools," it added.